Nissan Frontier Forum banner

Help, need to change my Manual Transmission and transfer case

5818 Views 13 Replies 6 Participants Last post by  FitzIngarage
Well I read the write ups on the automatic fluid changes and the front and rear diffs are simple but im confused. Sorry shinnermiller but this quote made me confused.

" Edit for this post too: Forgot to mention about the T-Case fluid.. This stuff was YUCK as I drained it. It wasnt quite as burned and nasty as my transmission fluid, but you could tell it was a little overdue! No debris in this one like the front diff. Fluid was clean as it drained, but used. I think I'll do the T-case every 30k when I do the transmission service. "

So is the transmission is same as the Transfercase?? Sounds like you changed 4 sections totall. I know im a noob but had to make it clear. Also what kind of fluids will i use for a manual transmission?? Any help guys would be awsome. We don't have pep boys and stuff here, so i don't know where to get the fluids, we have only like checkers, automotive and stuff. but i'll call around, i was thinking my local nissan would sell those geniune fluids
1 - 14 of 14 Posts
Transmission and Transfer Case are two seperate things.

Without 4WD you won't have a transfer case or front differential - instead the transmission goes directly to the rear differential via the driveshaft.

The transfer case connects to the transmission, one shaft goes to the front diff, the other goes to the rear diff.

4 seperate items. 2 are joined together...the transmission and transfer case...and they have their own fluid.

If you don't know, don't do it - take it to a shop, have them teach you, then you can do it on your own.

Don't walk in blind, that's how bad things happen!
See less See more
from looking at the pictures all he did was rear diff, front diff, and his automatic transmission. so you saying there is 4 drain plugs and 4 fill plugs that will be removed??
from reading it over and over his sticky i got it. The transfercase is the one he did with the front and rear and thats the one with the electircal plug near the drain and fill plugs. So now my question is since im manual, do i use manual transmission in the transfer case as well as the transmission? Come on guys i know you know.
Holy crap!!! You should take your truck in and let someone else work on it...
Holy crap!!! You should take your truck in and let someone else work on it...
well reason i wont take it in because i need my truck the next day. What got me confused was he used automatic transmission fluid in his transfercase and of course ATF in his transmission. No one has done a manual fluid change so im curious. I know what is the transfer case from reading so keep your thoughts to urself or i'll shove it up ur exhaust hahaha.. Help or dont say nothing at all wierdo name

and all i want to know is how much i need for my 6spd tranny and am i using MTF in my transfer case??
I'm sorry, didn't mean to be a dick. My old 6 speed took 4 1/2 quarts of fluid, I ran Redline MT-90. The transfer case, I used Redline D4-ATF.

The biggest thing to pay attention to is the GL rating on the tranny fluid. You want to run a GL-4 style fluid in your tranny, avoid running a GL-5 in it. The GL-5 fluids have additives that may or may not break down the syncros in the manual tranny. Yes, you need to run an auto tranny fluid in the transfer case like Merco/Dextron III in it. Kinda weird, I know, but take a look at your manual if you still got it.

So in short, run a 70w-90, 75w-90, or 80w-90 GL-4 gear oil in your 6 speed (buy 5 quarts). Then run a Dextron/Mercon 3 (III) in your transfer case (buy 4 quarts). It's up to you if you want to run synthetic or not.
I'm sorry, didn't mean to be a dick. My old 6 speed took 4 1/2 quarts of fluid, I ran Redline MT-90. The transfer case, I used Redline D4-ATF.

The biggest thing to pay attention to is the GL rating on the tranny fluid. You want to run a GL-4 style fluid in your tranny, avoid running a GL-5 in it. The GL-5 fluids have additives that may or may not break down the syncros in the manual tranny. Yes, you need to run an auto tranny fluid in the transfer case like Merco/Dextron III in it. Kinda weird, I know, but take a look at your manual if you still got it.

So in short, run a 70w-90, 75w-90, or 80w-90 GL-4 gear oil in your 6 speed (buy 5 quarts). Then run a Dextron/Mercon 3 (III) in your transfer case (buy 4 quarts). It's up to you if you want to run synthetic or not.

Now thats some good answers lol... Thanks but i don't think we have those brands in hawaii... so i'll have to look around more. I went to the dealer today and asked for some transmission fluid and he gave me Nissan HQ multi 75W-85 MTF. But he told me 3 quarts is what i needed. So that makes me confused now, it doesn't say GL-4 or anything. I'll have to go look for those GL-4 ratings on my next day off.
Now thats some good answers lol... Thanks but i don't think we have those brands in hawaii... so i'll have to look around more. I went to the dealer today and asked for some transmission fluid and he gave me Nissan HQ multi 75W-85 MTF. But he told me 3 quarts is what i needed. So that makes me confused now, it doesn't say GL-4 or anything. I'll have to go look for those GL-4 ratings on my next day off.

Sounds like he gave you the right stuff, run it. Nissan's not gonna put the GL rating on the bottle, that info will be on a bottle (like Mobile 1, Redline, Royal Purple) that comes out of a parts store (Autozone, Advance, NAPA) It's been a while, but I swear I drained out over 4 quarts. Just buy some extra if you can, if you don't need it, save it for next time...You're on the right track...
ok thanks man
Does anyone know the hex head sizes for the 6MT (2WD) transmission? The drain may be 10mm, but I'm not positive. Not sure about the fill. I'd rather avoid buying a set of 3/8" Drive hex head sockets if only one or two sizes will do the job. Thank you.
I'm not sure of the sizes for a 6MT, but I bought a full set when I did my diff's and t-case it was like $8 at Harbor Freight. They worked well without attempting to strip at all.
I borrowed some hex head wrenches from a friend at work to test for size and both the drain and fill plugs in my 2006 are 10mm. The hex descends about 1/4" into the plug before bottoming out.

Yep, [Bottom Of The] Harbor Freight may be my next stop. :)
1 - 14 of 14 Posts
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top